Oakland Park Council To Ease Sign Proposal

OAKLAND PARK — The City Council directed the city`s administrative staff on Wednesday night to weaken a proposed sign ordinance that would affect nearly all of the 4,000 businesses in Oakland Park.

In reviewing the 36-page ordinance, council members directed its staff to make the ordinance, which they said was too strict, less restrictive.

``We`re not building a whole new city,`` said Vice Mayor Mary Laveratt. ``We have to address the problems we have.``

After the ordinance is revised, it will go before the council in January. If adopted in its current form, acting City Manager Bert Wrains said, most of the stores and shops in Oakland Park would have non-conforming signs.

Business owners will get five years in which to comply, but any business moving into the city would be required to adhere to the law immediately.

The ordinance would prohibit roof and painted wall signs. However, council members James Loss and H. Keneth Powell said they saw nothing wrong with painted wall signs and said they would try to strike that restriction.

Oakland Park has a higher percentage of businward County. About 28 percent of the city is devoted to business, commercial or industrial use, city officials said.

In addition to promoting public safety, the purpose of the ordinance is to improve the appearance of the city.

``I`ve seen some signs on Oakland Park Boulevard that would gag a maggot,`` Loss said.